Bridge city punch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. GUILD.

STEAM SHBARS.

No., 542,190. Patented July 2, 1895.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

e. GUILD. STEAM SHEARS. No. 542,190. Patented July 2, 1895..

@eg @W3 UNrriDvv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GUILD, OF CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CAM- BRIDGECITY PUNCH, SHEAR AND ROLL COMPANY,` OF SAME PLACE.

STEAM-SH EARS.

SPECIFICATION ,formingl part of Letters Patent No. 542,190, dated July2, 1895.

i Application filed February 20, 1895. Serial No. 539,034. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Beitknown thatl, GEORGE GUILD, a citizen of the United States, residingat Cambridge City, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Shears, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inshearing-machines; and it consists in means of peculiar construction foroperating the shearing knife and other auxiliary parts by means ofduid-pressure, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the knife-headand the holding-down headare caused to operate almost simultaneously byfluid-pressure by means of a common controlling-valve, and also means bywhich the hold'down may be instantly released and simultaneouslyoperated to raise withthe knife-head, and also to provide means wherebythe .holding-down head will automatically adjust itself to any thicknessof metal or other material to be shearedand i firmly clamp and hold thesame While being sheared. I attain these objects by means of themechanism constituting the machine illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,in which similar numbers and letters of reference des-v ignatelike parts throughout the several views. Figure 1 is a front elevationof the machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig.

3 is a sectional end elevation taken through the line AfB. (See Fig. l.)Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation of the main orknife-head-actuating cylinder and the lower holddowlractuating cylinder,taken through the line AB. (See Fig. 1.) Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsectional view of the main or knife-actuating cylinder, the lowerholding-down-actuating cylinder, and the valve cylinder-supporting' beam3, securely bolted at its ends to the top sides of the housings l, andthe table 4, securely bolted at lthe ends of the inner sides of-saidhousings l.

The knife-head 5 has its bottom or knifeedge horizontally inclined-thatis, inclined with regard to the edge of the bottom knife, which ispreferably ush-with the top surface of the table 4, and is adapted toaccurately fit and to slide or reciprocate vertically in suitableguideways 6, formed in the housings 1, said knife-head provided with theupy wardly-projecting pieces or ears 7, formed integral on the top endedges thereof. To the ears 7 are pivoted the knife-head-actuatingYlevers S, which have their long or power ends directed toward thecenter of the machinethat is, toward the actuating cylinder, said leverends pivoted to the bottom ends of the adjusting links 9, said levers 8fulcrumed on the fulcrum links 10, which are pivoted on the fulcrumstands 11, secured firmly on the top beam 3, or they may be formedintegral thereon.

Intermediate between the ends of the beam 3 is firmly secured the hollowpiston 12, (see Fig. 3, and detail, Figs. 4 and 5,) which is providedwith the lower port or opening 13 and the upper port or opening 14. Thispiston is also grooved with peripheral grooves at or near its top end,whichare adapted to receive suitable packing rings l5, used in mechanismof this class.

The cylinder 16 is adapted to accurately lit and to traverselongitudinally on its piston 12,'said cylinder having the cross-head 17securely bolted on its top closed end, and to the ends of whichare'pivoted the top ends of the connecting-links 9. The connecting-links9, which are on opposite vsides of the cylinder 16, are preferablycomposed of two stubs or sections connected at their threaded ends bythe usual well-known form of turnbuckle 18, by which adjustment may bemade to take up lost motion or play. In a parallel plane in front of theknife-head 5 and above the ta ble 4 the holdingdown head or gate 19 ismounted in suitable ways 20, formed in the end housings 1, and in whichthe guide ends of said holding-down head slide or traverse vertically.The holding-down head 19 is op IOO usual stuffing-box and gland throughwhich Formed integral on the said cylinder 22, or firmly bolted thereto,

the piston-rod 23 works.

is the valve-box or steam-chest 27, which is preferably cylindrical inforni, and in which the hollow piston-valve 28 is fitted to form asteam-tight joint, and is adapted to slide longitudinally therein, saidvalve having its eentral portion reduced in diameter to permit theexhaust or used steam o-r other Huid under pressure to be freelydischarged through and from either the top or bottom ports a or Z) intoand through the exhaust-pipe 2.9 into the atmosphere. Motion iscommunicated to the said valve 28 by means of the rod 30, which passesthrough the stuffing-box 3l and the gland 32 on the top end of the saidvalvebox 27.

Connected tothe top end of the valverod 3() is the starting-valve lever32, which is pivoted on the arm 33, which latter may be either formedintegral on the beam 3 or firmly bolted thereon, said lever having itsouter or opposite end connected to the top end of the connecting-rod 34,the latter having its bottom end connected to the end of thetreadlelever 35, by which the said valve mechanism is operated manually.

Steam or other fluid under pressure is admitted into the steam-chest 27,at the bottom end thereof, by means of asuitable pipe connection, as 36.

In order that the bottom edge of the holding-down head 19 may bemaintained in an approximately horizontal position, yet at the same timebe permitted, when forced against the material on the shearing-table 4,to clamp or retain it in position while being sheared, as a plate ofunequal thickness or a tapered plate, and at the same time to yield ateither end or swing in a longitudinal direction to accommodate its lowerclamping-edge to the surface of such a plate or plates to clamp and holdt-he same firmly, I provide the steadying-arms 37 and 3S, pivoted attheir bottom ends on said holding-down head 19 at points equally distantapart from the pivotal center of' the piston-rod 23 and at greaterdistances apart than their top pivotal ends, which are pivoted on theends of the compensating crosshead 39, said cross-head being ofrectangular section (see Figs. 6 and 7) and accurately fitted into asimilarly-formed slot formed in said piston-rod 23, above the pivotalpoint thereof, and in which said cross-head is adapted to slide or playslightly in a longitudinal direcA tion to permit the holding-down headto accommodate its clamping-edge to sheets of varying or irregularthicknesses.

The table 4, it will be observed, is reinforced at. its under inner edgeby the reinforcing-rib 40, for the purpose ot' resisting the stressfalling on the lower knife 4l while the machine is shearing a plate.

The operation of the machine is simple and rapid and will be readilyunderstood.

The plate to be sheared or dressed is placed on the top of the table4,witl1 that portion to be sheared or trimmed off lapping over thecutting-edge of the bottom knife 41, and may be fed intothe machineeither manually or by means of suitable mechanism provided therefor.When the plate is placed in position to be sheared, the treadle-lever 35is operated to lower the valve 28 and to open the port a, to the drivingfluid, which forces the piston of the small or holding-down cylinder andits rod 23 down, thereby causing the holdingdown head 19 to firmly clampthe plate under treatment. The greater portion `of the fluid passingthrough the port a, leading into the cylinder' 2.2, at its top cud, isdischarged into and through the opening 13, formed in the bottom of thefixed piston l2, thence through the opening 1li into the space betweenthe top end ofthe fixed piston 12 and the interior top end of thecylinder 16, thereby causing the said cylinder '16 to traverse or slidelongitudinally and upwardly on ,its piston 12, which movement causes theknife-head to descend or to move toward its opposite or lowershearing-knife through the medium of the simultaneously actuating oroperating levers 8.

It will be readily understood from an examination of the drawings,especially Figs. 1, 3, and 5, that immediately the treadle is releasedthe valve 28 is free to move upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5,and the fluid in the upper and lower cylinders will be eX- haustedthrough the port aand the other openings in the reverse order in whichthe fluid entered, thereby permitting the cylinder 16 to descend toraise the knifehead 5. Simultaneous with this movement the steam orfluid under pressure is admitted through the port b into the bottom endof the cylinder 22 to raise its piston and rod 23, thereby elevating theholding-down head and releasing the plate undergoing operation. f

It will be readily seen that a fixed cylinder could be substituted forthe moving or traversing cylinder illustrated in the drawings and amoving or reciprocating piston provided 'to work in said cylinder, saidpiston having the cross-head 17 attached to the outer end of itspiston-rod, thereby in the same manner communicating motion to theknifehead 5, through the levers 8, Without departing from the spirit ofmy invention; but I prefer to use the arrangement herein described, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, for the ICO 'reason that thegreater weight of the traversing cylinder 16 is sufficient' to -causethe return of the said knife-head when said cylinder is released ofpressure.

An overhanging arm, either formed integral or firmly secured o n theknife-head at the end thereof, as K, and adapted to alternately engagethe upper and lower trips or stops T, secured on the connecting-rod 34,may be employed to automatically operate the actuating or starting valve28 when a continuous reciprocating movement of the knife-head 5 isrequired.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of myinvention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to cover byLetters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

l. In a steam or other iiuid actuated shearingmachine, the combinationwith a descending knife head, and a fixed shearing table, of a IiXedpiston centrally disposed over said knife-head, a cylinder adapted toslide vertically on said piston, levers pivoted on the top outer ends ofsaidv knife-head, and having their power ends directed toward saidcylinder, fixed fulcrum blocks, and links pivoted on said blocks and thefulcrums of said levers, all substantially as and for the purpose setforth. e

2. In a steam or other fluid actuated shearing machine, the combinationwith adescend.- ing knife head, a fixed shearing table and itssupporting frame, of a fixed piston centrally disposed over saidknife-head, a piston supporting beam, av cylinder adapted to slidevertically on said piston, levers pivoted on the top cuter ends of saidknife-head and having their power ends directed toward said cylinder,fulcrum links hinged to said beam and to the fulcrum centers of saidlevers, connecting rods connecting the power ends of said levers to saidsliding cylinder, and suitable means whereby the actuatingiluid isadmitted into and exhausted from said cylinder, all substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. In a steam or otherfluid actuated shearing machine, the combinationwith a holdingdown head and its actuating cylinder, of a piston-roddepending from said cylinder and pivoted on said holding down head atits lower end, said rod having a slot above its pivotal point, acrosshead accurately fitting and adapted to slide in said slot, armspivoted at their top ends to said cross-head and having their bottomends pivoted on said holding down head on opposite sides of said pistonrod, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a steam or other fluid actuated shearing machine, the combinationwith a descending-knife-head, a` descending holding-downhead, a shearingtable and its supporting frame, of a fixed piston centrally disposedover said knife-head, a piston supporting beam, a cylinder adapted toslide longitudinally on said fixed piston, suitable knife head actuatinglevers fulcrumed on said beam on opposite sides of said slidingcylinder, a crosshead on said cylinder, adjustable rods connecting thesaid crosshead and the ends of said levers, fulcrum blocks on said beam,and fulcrum links connecting the fulcrum centers of said levers and saidblocks, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a steam or other fluid actuated shearing machine, the combinationwith a descending knife-head, a descending holding downhead, a shearingtable and its supporting frame, of a hollow vertical piston centrallydisposed over said knife-head, a piston supporting beam, a cylinderadapted to slide on said piston, levers pivoted on the top ends of saidknife-head and having their power arms directed toward the center pistonand its cylinder, fulcrum links hinged on said beam and on the fulcrumcenters of said levers, connecting rods connecting the power ends ofsaid levers'with said sliding cylinder, a lower fixed cylinder, anactuating piston rod depending therefrom and having its lower endpivoted on said holding down head, said rod being slotted immediatelyabove its pivotal end, a crosshead adapted to slide longitudinally insaid slot, depending or outwardly extending steadying arms pivoted tosaid crosshead and to said holding-down head on opposite sides of saidpiston rod, and a suitable starting valve connecting with both theactuating cylinders, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE GUILD.

Witnesses:

THOMPSON R. BELL, M. M. DEFREES.

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